[Note: The text begins fragmentarily]

...al'nogo moyego trebovaniya ukazat' mne osnovaniya
dlya povysheniya mne zhalovaiya s 1 marta 1918 g. s 500 do 800 rub. v mesyats i vvidu yavnoy
bezakonnosti etogo povyshe-

TO A. A. IOFFE AND V. R. MENZHINSKY. MAY 24, 1918

niya, proizvedyonnogo Vami samochinno po soglasheniyu s sekretaryom Soveta Nikolayem
Petrovichem Gorbunovym, v pryamoe narushenie dekreta Soveta Narodnykh Komissarov
ot 23 noyabrya 1917 goda, ob"yavlyayu Vam strogiy vygavor.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

First published in 1933
in Lenin Collection XXI

Printed from the typescript
signed by V. I. Lenin

NOTE TO SECRETARY

Ring Tyurup (or his deputy), read him the enclosed documents, and tell him that I insist on sending several carloads of grain to the hungry workers of these factories.

Lenin

Written May 24, 1918

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

TO A. A. IOFFE AND V. R. MENZHINSKY

Comrade Ioffe and Menzhinsky

24/V. 1918.

Dear comrades! I received your pessimistic and angry letters (received one of May 20 today, May 24). Part of your accusations directed against Chicherin fall on me. For example, I insisted on sending theses on concessions through the Germans in order to show them how seriously we desire proper economic relations. (The theses were worked out unanimously with the participation of Radek and other "left-foolish" types.) The conditions of our concessions are such that nothing but benefit for us will result if the Germans accept these conditions.

Your policy, especially as detailed in Comrade Ioffe's letters, I fully approve.

Your dissatisfaction with Chicherin, in my view, is exaggerated. But in any case I am willing to help you, and I ask that you direct efforts toward practical ways to improve matters. To this end I would propose formulating concrete proposals precisely (sending me copies of telegrams and letters, but only in strictly practical and concise form, since I absolutely have no time to read everything). Then I promise to strive for their implementation and to check whether they have been carried out.

As to how to shift the center of gravity more to Berlin (I agree to help with this), you must think this over and propose very tactful (N.B.) and concretely practical measures for it. I will take all possible measures and will strive to carry them out.

If it is possible to help obtain peace with Finland, Ukraine, and Turkey (that is the crux), we must always do everything for this (of course, without certain new annexations and tribute this cannot be obtained). I would give much for the acceleration of such peace.

Do not be nervous yourself. Correcting (and creating new) diplomacy is difficult work.

Best regards.

Your Lenin

P. S.

28/V. Arrived too late for the courier.

Chicherin transmitted to me the text of a note which Ioffe sent on his own behalf to the German government, agreeing to the withdrawal of the Black Sea fleet vessels (i.e., their removal from Novorossiysk to Sevastopol) on condition of peace with Ukraine alone. Meanwhile our government in a clear note (broadcast by radio and transmitted to Ioffe) recognized it possible to agree to the withdrawal of the vessels to Sevastopol on different conditions, namely: 1) peace on all three fronts, i.e., with Ukraine and with Finland and with Turkey; 2) no annexation of Sevastopol.

How could Ioffe make such an error? How could he "undersell" so badly? How could one send a note on such an important question on one's own authority without consulting, without understanding... I do not comprehend it.

N. B. Send *Arbeiterpolitik*, the Stuttgart *Sozial-Demokrat* and similar publications, everything, in full, 5-10 copies each.

Have you begun publishing anything legal in German? What exactly? What is the plan for publication and when did it begin?

Greetings! Lenin

Sent to Berlin

First published in 1959
in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript

RESOLUTION ON A MEMORANDUM
OF THE HEAD OF THE NAVAL GENERAL STAFF

Given the hopelessness of the situation, as proven by the highest military authorities, destroy the fleet immediately.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

Written May 24, 1918

First published in 1938
in the journal *Naval Collection* No. 6

Printed from the manuscript

TO S. G. SHAUMYAN

May 24, 1918. Moscow

Dear Comrade Shaumyan!

I take the opportunity to send you a few more words again (recently sent you a letter by courier; did you receive it?). The situation in Baku is difficult from an international perspective. Therefore I would advise attempting a bloc with Jordania. If impossible — you must maneuver and delay decision until you strengthen yourselves militarily. Sober calculation and diplomacy for delay — remember this.

Establish radio and send me letters through Astrakhan.

Best regards. Your Lenin

Sent to Baku

"Bulletins of the Dictatorship
of Centrocaspian and the Presidium
of the Temporary Executive Committee" No. 33, September 8, 1918

Printed from the text
of the Bulletins

TO A. G. SHLYAPNIKOV

To Shlyapnikov

The Central Committee has decided to redirect a maximum of party forces to food supply.

For we shall clearly perish and destroy the entire revolution if we do not defeat hunger in the coming months.

You must temporarily be directed to food supply (while retaining the rank of People's Commissar of Labor). I am confident that you will carry out the Central Committee directive.

I think you should go to the Kuban in order to help extract grain from there.

It is necessary to decide today and come to an agreement immediately with Tyurup.

Written May 28, 1918

First published, from the manuscript

TO N. P. GORBUNOVS. MAY 29, 1918

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH A. D. TYURUP

V. I.! How has the question been decided regarding the use of the army for the struggle to seize grain? And if it has been decided in the affirmative, how will this matter be formalized — in the order of an agreement with the Military Commissariat or by decree?

All this is very important to know, since today Kudinskiy was arrested (apparently by Dzerzhinsky's commission); our work is threatened with complete stoppage.

A. Tyurup

Precisely in that order. Today (from my office) telephone Trotsky so that tomorrow he sets everything in motion.

Just now I wrote to Shlyapnikov to go to the Kuban. He must come to an agreement with you today. I advise you to appoint him from the Council of People's Commissars today itself.

Stalin has agreed to go to the Northern Caucasus. Send him. He knows local conditions. It will be good with him and for Shlyapnikov.

A.Ts.

I fully agree. Implement both today.

Written May 28, 1918

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

TO I. I. GORBUNOVS

To Gorbunovs

Tell Minkin that Syzran has been taken by the Czechs. But we should not surrender to panic. Our forces are preparing to give a rebuff. Success is assured us if we do not fold our hands.

Written May 29, 1918

First published in 1959
in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript

TO THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE NEWSPAPER *IZVESTIYA VTSIK*

May 30, 1918

To the editorial board of *Izvestiya TsIK*

The representatives — delegates from the Yelets Soviet of People's Deputies. I earnestly request that you publish in the newspaper an interview with them. An exemplary district in terms of order, accounting for cultural estates and their management, in terms of suppressing the bourgeoisie.

With comradely greetings

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

First published in 1959
in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript

TO A. I. RYKOV

To Rykov

Weinberg telephoned me that at the congress of councils of the national economy the "left" said foolish things on the question of enterprise management and that there is a threat of a foolish resolution passing concerning the diminution of the rights of board chairmen.

What passed? and what is to be done?

Written between May 30
and June 2, 1918

First published in 1933
in Lenin Collection XXI

Printed from the manuscript

TO V. V. KURAEV

It is impossible and impermissible to leave before Myasnikov's arrival and before all business is handed over.

TO G. E. ZINOVYEV. MAY 31, 1918

At what hour did you receive the latest information and from whom in Penza? How many thousands of Czechs are there and when did they depart for Samara? When Myasnikov arrives, bring him to the apparatus for a conversation with me. What is the guarantee of the accuracy of information about the expedition?

Lenin

Just received a telegram from Minkin with a request to give him a train for his arrival with a report.

I insist on Minkin's trip to Penza if the Czechs have left, to receive and verify the expedition.

Lenin

Written May 31, 1918

Sent to Ruzayevka

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscripts

TO G. E. ZINOVYEV

May 31, 1918

Comrade Zinovyev!

The bearer — Comrade Bakh, who has a mandate from the central transport authority of Siberia. Requests acceleration of the distribution and dispatch to Siberia of 137 automobiles regarding which the auto-section (Petersburg) (Petrograd Commune) asked the auto-center to remove them from Petersburg as useless. We have decided to transfer all cargo automobiles to the food supply department.

Greetings! Your Lenin

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

TELEGRAM TO VYKSUNSK WORKERS

Kazan-Moscow Kulebaki
Vyskunk

To Vedernikov

I very much hope that the Vyksunsk comrade workers will carry out their excellent plan of mass action with machine guns for grain as true revolutionaries, that is, by sending to the detachment select people, reliable, non-plunderers, and for action according to directives in complete accord with Tyurup, for the common cause of saving all the hungry from starvation, and not only for themselves.

Lenin

Written May 31, 1918

First published incompletely
June 2, 1918 in the newspaper
*Izvestiya VTsIK* No. 111

Printed from the manuscript

Fully published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

TO AMERICAN
SOCIALIST-INTERNATIONALISTS

Through the American comrade Albert R. Williams I send my greetings to American socialist-internationalists. I firmly believe that in the end the social revolution will triumph in all civilized countries. When it comes to America, it will far surpass the Russian revolution.

Written in May 1918

First published in 1925
in the journal *Ogonek* No. 4 (95)

In 1960 published in the book:
Albert Rees Williams. *On Lenin
and the October Revolution*. Moscow

Printed from the text of the book

TO A. A. IOFFE. JUNE 2, 1918

TELEPHONE MESSAGE TO THE PETROGRAD SOVIET

Transmit to Petrograd to the Smolny
by telephone:

Given the interruption of the Siberian railway by the Czechoslovaks and the enormous threat to transport, given the interruption of transport, the greatest danger threatens food supply work.

Comrade Vladimirov insists and I support it, that Petrograd urgently send to Moscow the best food supply workers. These workers together with strong detachments of select workers can save the work.

Do not delay. Do not wait for external help. Strain all your forces for emergency measures on the part of Petrograd workers.

Lenin

Written June 2, 1918

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

TO A. A. IOFFE

2/VI. 1918.

Comrade Ioffe! Sokolnikov and Bukharin are coming to you, and it seems Larin as well. I take the opportunity to warn you somewhat. I am sitting at a meeting of "those departing" (without Larin). I hear speeches against the fact that "Ioffe is transferring the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs to Berlin."

Frictions between you and Chicherin are sometimes used — more unconsciously than consciously — in the sense or direction of exacerbating these frictions.

I am confident that you will be on guard and will not allow these frictions to be exacerbated. I have followed your letters carefully and am convinced with firm conviction that these frictions are unimportant (chaos everywhere, sloppiness everywhere — in all commissariats, and from this evil the cure is slow). Patience and persistence, and the frictions will be smoothed over. Chicherin is an excellent worker, your line fully loyally conducts the Brest treaty, you have success already, in my view — and from this it follows that we can easily smooth over the frictions.

If the German merchants take economic advantages, understanding that they will get nothing from us by war, we will burn everything — then your policy will continue to have success. We can give the Germans raw materials. In an important case — send me copies of your precise demands. Establish a direct line as soon as possible.

Bukharin is loyal, but has gone wild in "left-foolishness" to a hellish degree. Sokolnikov has become unbalanced again. Larin — a wavering intellectual, a blabbermouth of the first order. Therefore be extremely on guard with all these charming and wonderful delegates. Sokolnikov — a most valuable worker, but sometimes (and just now) he "gets into one of his moods" and he "breaks dishes" over paradoxes. If you do not take precautions — he will break dishes there for you. And Bukharin — three times over. *Premier garde!*

I hope that Krasin and Ganetzky as practical people will help you and everything will be put in order.

Thank you for the "enclosure" to your letter. I am waiting for more. Best regards.

Your Lenin

P. S.

N. B.: Among Russian Bolsheviks taken prisoner by Germany (*Zwilfsergangene*) was Popov from Brussels, taken in Belgium. Is it not possible to find him and take him into service?

P. P. S. By courier — but not by mail — try to send the enclosed to Switzerland.

Sent to Berlin

First published in 1959
in Lenin Collection XXXVI

Printed from the manuscript

TELEGRAM TO V. L. PANYUSHKIN. JUNE 3, 1918

TO YA. A. BERZIN OR G. L. SHKLOVSKY

2/VI. 1918.

To Comrade Berzin
or Shklovsky

Dear friends! I am astonished that not a sound has come from you until now.
Transmit the enclosed to Girobo.

Greetings to Platten and Gorter. It would be good to have a couple of lines from them.
Awaiting news.

Your Lenin

Sent to Bern

First published January 21, 1925
in the newspaper *Pravda* No. 17

Printed from the manuscript

TELEGRAM TO V. L. PANYUSHKIN

Tula

Provincial Soviet

Forward to Panyushkin

Astonished at the absence of information. Report urgently how much grain has been received, how many carloads have been dispatched, how many speculators and kulaks have been arrested.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin

Written June 3, 1918

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

DRAFT TELEGRAM TO BERLIN TO A. A. IOFFE

I propose replying:

Envoy Ioffe has already been given, and repeatedly, all authority up to sending Larin back. I confirm these authorities.

Lenin

Written in June, later than June 4, 1918

First published, from the manuscript

RESOLUTION ON THE LETTER OF I. I. SOLOVYEV

It cannot be reserved because there is war there.

Entrust the expenditure to Shaumyan, instructing him to place oil in first place.

Written June 5, 1918

First published in 1933
in Lenin Collection XXI

Printed from the manuscript

EXCHANGE OF NOTES WITH A. D. TYURUP

To Tyurup:

Given the frenzied agitation of enemies and "waverers" and its influence on workers in Petrograd, Moscow, etc., it would be necessary for you to publish (and distribute by leaflet to factories) something like a letter to the workers:

you are being frightened, they say —

waverers are sowing panic —

speak of "independent procurement" —

criticize the "center," blaming others —

and so forth.

But you workers, do not believe complainers and panic-sowers and critics,

but get down to business: let every factory send us trusted people to help with a guarantee, with vouching, we will show them where the obstacle is, what the difficulty is, they will help us.

Can you manage the placement of such people?

REPLY OF A. D. TYURUP

Correct, we can manage it. We accept your proposal for implementation. A small group of workers has already heard a series of reports from us on food supply matters (like lectures) and will leave in a few days with our representative to the Tambov and Voronezh provinces. We have appealed to all Soviets, Bolshevik committees and trade unions to give us reliable people.

To Tyurup:

Are factory committees included here, at least of large factories and enterprises? This is important.

Written June 7, 1918

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

TO A. D. TYURUP

June 7, 1918

Comrade Tyurup or his deputy

Comrade Tyurup! I am sending to you representatives of the Vyshnevolotsk Soviet of People's Deputies.

The hunger there is excruciating. It is necessary to help urgently with all measures and give at least something immediately.

I have already spoken with these comrades about the formation of detachments and about the tasks of food supply work, but it is necessary that you also speak with them about it.

Lenin

First published in 1931
in Lenin Collection XVIII

Printed from the manuscript

TO A. P. SMIRNOV

June 7, 1918

Comrade Smirnov!

The bearers are interested in the question of elections to the Soviets. I told them that they always have the right to recall their representatives.

Explain to them your experience and give them guidance.

Lenin

First published in 1933
in Lenin Collection XXI

Printed from the manuscript

TELEGRAM TO NIZHNY — RIVER

Urgent. Nizhny — River
Copies Saratov, Tsaritsyn

It is proposed that you carry out immediately, without question, all orders and directives of the extraordinary plenipotentiary of the Council of People's Commissars, Commissar Stalin.

Transmit to Stalin: all his orders and directives must be communicated in copies immediately to Nizhny — River, the Volga Regional Administration.

Urgently communicate the content of this present telegram to all districts.

Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars Lenin